PA Restaurants, Hotels To Get $145M In COVID Relief

HARRISBURG, PA — Restaurants, hotels and other hospitality-industry businesses in Pennsylvania that have suffered during the coronavirus pandemic have some help on the way.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that $145 million will be sent out to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. The money will be sent to counties based on population size and is expected to arrive by Feb. 28.

"The commonwealth’s hospitality industry is critical to the lives and livelihoods of so many Pennsylvanians, and it’s undeniable that it has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," Wolf said. "After months of calling for support for our hospitality establishments and their employees, I am pleased that the General Assembly have allocated millions of dollars in resources to protect and preserve this industry."

At the county level, the grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to businesses in $5,000 increments.

Businesses will be invited to apply for the grants and, as part of the program, counties must begin accepting those applications no later than March 15.

The grants will be available to hotels, restaurants and bars with fewer than 300 full-time employees that are worth up to $15 million and have been in operation since at least Feb. 15, 2020.

They must insure they plan to stay in business for at least another year and that the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety restrictions associated with it have hurt their business. Wolf said priority will be given to businesses that have not already gotten a loan or grant from the state or federal government and to those that had to close during parts of the pandemic.

Details about the program can be found on the state Department of Community and Economic Development's website.